New Delhi, Sept. 15 -- India's heavy reliance on US software, cloud services, and social media platforms creates significant economic and security vulnerabilities, particularly during periods of geopolitical tension, according to a report released Sunday by the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI).

The think tank cautioned that the US has the ability to disrupt banking, governance, and defence systems by restricting access to critical technologies, while also influencing public discourse through foreign-owned digital platforms.

"India's economy and security are deeply reliant on US software, cloud, and social media platforms, creating a major vulnerability in times of geopolitical tension," the report noted.

To mitigate these risks,...